Vehicle-Mounted Camera Network for Surveillance and Tracking

Abstract

An example embodiment is a system of network-capable cameras and/or sensors in vehicles in combination with a network that communicates and manages data from multiple vehicle's cameras and/or sensors to provide a comprehensive surveillance network. In some embodiments vehicle sensors and/or cameras communicate anonymously with electronic devices in range of short-range wireless communication protocols to relay the information to the network. Vehicles may be occupied or unoccupied, moving or parked, powered or unpowered. This dynamic surveillance network aids authorities and safety personnel in tracking vehicles and individuals in real-time. In some embodiments vehicle cameras and/or sensors are equipped with license plate reader technology and facial recognition technology.

1 . A surveillance system comprising:
 wireless connectivity between a plurality of vehicle mounted sensors and a central processing unit; and   said central processing unit configured to receive signals from said plurality of vehicle mounted sensors; and   said central processing unit storing instructions for processing said signals, providing for surveillance of an area defined by, and surrounding, the location of said vehicle mounted sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The surveillance system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 wireless connectivity between a plurality of vehicle mounted cameras and said central processing unit; wherein 
 said central processing unit is configured to further receive signals from said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras. 
 
     
     
         3 . The surveillance system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 anonymous wireless connectivity from said plurality of vehicle mounted sensors and cameras, transmitted through wireless devices to said central processing unit. 
 
     
     
         4 . The surveillance system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the signals and processing thereof may only be authorized by a federal or governmental agency. 
 
     
     
         5 . The surveillance system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 license plate reading technology electronically coupled with each of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras; wherein 
 license plates within the field of view of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras are read by said license plate reading technology and converted to data; wherein 
 said data is sent to said central processing unit for processing to text data that may be sent to authorities for matching to vehicles of interest. 
 
     
     
         6 . The surveillance system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 facial recognition technology electronically coupled with each of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras; wherein 
 faces within the field of view of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras are recorded by said facial recognition technology and converted to data; wherein 
 said data is sent to said central processing unit for processing, the results of which may be sent to authorities for matching to persons of interest. 
 
     
     
         7 . The surveillance system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 instructions for tracking a specific vehicle are included in said instructions; wherein 
 said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras and sensors on nearby vehicles may be focused on said specific vehicle. 
 
     
     
         8 . The surveillance system of  claim 2  wherein:
 visual surveillance of an area is defined by the location of said vehicle mounted cameras and sensors is expanded to a geofenced area; wherein 
 signals from vehicle mounted cameras and sensors inside of said geofenced area are prioritized for processing. 
 
     
     
         9 . The surveillance system of  claim 8  wherein:
 the geofenced area redefined by a last known position of the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and cameras. 
 
     
     
         10 . The surveillance system of  claim 9  wherein:
 the last known position of the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and cameras is based on newly delivered LPR. 
 
     
     
         11 . The surveillance system of  claim 8  wherein:
 the last known position of the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and cameras is based on facial recognition data. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating the surveillance system of  claim 2 , the method comprising:
 monitoring vehicles through a network of vehicle's cameras and sensors; and   deploying LPR technology using the sensors and cameras of at least one vehicle; and   transmitting LPR data to said central processing unit; and   processing LPR data by matching license plate information with license plate information of vehicles of interest; and   identifying a vehicle of interest; and   setting a geofencing boundary surrounding a location of said vehicle of interest; and   tracking said vehicle of interest with said network of vehicle's cameras and sensors.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 evaluating said geofencing boundary according to a location of most recent transmittal of signals from said plurality of vehicle mounted sensors; and 
 resetting said geofencing boundary according to said location of most recent transmittal. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 deploying facial recognition technology using the sensors and cameras of at least one vehicle; and 
 transmitting facial recognition data to said central processing unit; and 
 processing facial recognition data by matching said facial recognition data with an identity of a person of interest; and 
 setting a geofencing boundary surrounding a location of said person of interest; and 
 tracking said person of interest with said network of vehicle's cameras and sensors.